"Few things leave a deeper mark on a reader than the first book that finds a way into his heart."
The Shadow of the Wind,
by Carlos Ruiz Zafon

Sunday, May 31, 2009

Sunday Salon-A Walk in the Woods

My sister surprised me with an unusual day of fun. We went to the Institute of American Indian Studies to take a nature walk. We spent the day with a guide who showed us how to identify edible plants by their characteristics, what part of the plant was edible and when to harvest. Amazingly he relayed how much food is in our forests, fields and backyards and we don't even know it.

What an interesting and relaxing day with weather in total cooperation. It was one of those perfect spring days with a slight breeze, mild temperatures and spectacular puffy clouds dotting the sky. As we walked miles through the Steep Rock Park in Washington, CT our guide Andy stopped frequently to show us the wide array of edible plants abundantly available to the adventurous and hungry.

Here are some pictures I snapped along the way with my i-phone. We were rewarded at the end of our walk with a stunning sight of the "Lady Slipper" once teeming in our woods, but now a rare sighting.

If you are interested in reading more about edible plants and how to identify them and cook them, Andy recommended this book widely available.